I was a bit annoyed this morning or should I say early yesterday as I was leaving for work around 6 AM. We had a snow storm and my car was covered with ice. I couldn’t get the door opened and finally resorted to get some water. I was warned never to use hot water because of the damages it might cause. I managed to drive over the once was grass area – now covered with snow to back out of the driveway because the pile of snow blocking it was all ice.
During my hour drive, I was thinking about procrastination and how since my last post I have come across about 3 different ‘How-to’ get rid of procrastination tips. Apparently there’s a cure.
Then my mind shifted to the story of Job that I had read the night before. You all know about the events that took place one after another his life. It starts with:
“ In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” We would not expect such horrible things to happen to a righteous, God-fearing Job because after all He promises to watch over His own and protect them.
And verse 8 says: Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
I bet Job didn’t know God had enlisted him for the job. Was it because God was so sure that he was the man for it? I first read the book of Job or least part of it (don’t recall) when my first boyfriend died in a car accident 2 days after Christmas. It took me a year to get back to whatever ‘normal’ was and many people had suggested I read the story of Job. I still believe he was my soul mate. I have since read the book but last night, I noticed something that struck me but before I do tell- may we read the story again.
13. One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 14. a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15. and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 16. While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 17. While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 18. While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19. when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 20. At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.
If you skip the passage because it’s familiar, please read the last verse. First, Job got up. Was he on the floor while getting one bad news after another with each one being worse than the previous? I have experienced grief but never at such an intense level where poor Job lost all his wealth and children in one day. He didn’t blame God. In fact, he didn’t say a single word. If he did, the author certainly left it out. What I find to be very striking is the fact that after
1. He got up.
2. Tore his robe and shaved his head.
3. HE
WORSHIPED.
Yes. He fell to the ground and worship. The hosts of hell were probably in all anticipation hoping that Satan was right in his accusation of Job - to see how Job would respond to the loss of his wealth and his children while the hosts of heaven were rooting for him. Poor Job had no clue what was taken place behind the scenes in the heavenlies. There was absolutely nothing in Job’s life that compelled God to cause him to suffer. Here’s the reason I am still up at this time writing this post. I have been weeping and crying over two stories that I read about just a while ago. Two different lives that ended abruptly due to illnesses. My heart aches and I kept asking why. The first story is about a soldier name
Coleman. His story was shared with us in the Precept Leaders Forum by asking for prayers for the family. His condition worsened very fast from leukemia, liver failure, followed by major organs one after another. Update and urgent prayer requests were posted daily. And about 11:05 PM, I got an email that Coleman was no more. He was gone in about two weeks. So young. Why Lord? I wept and cried for Coleman. Granted he is in the arms of His Maker but the pain and heartaches his loved ones must be going through.
Then I went to
Sheryl’s blog from yesterday about dear
Robynn. I read her post but did not get a chance to read Robynn's journey. Now- to read about what she went through is hard to believe in the last few days of her life. Again I cried. I kept looking at the family pictures, the children – as young as my son and cried again. We were born the same year. I am trying to hold the tears as I write this now. How do you explain to little children 8 and 6 years old that mommy is gone. They are old enough to understand and yet will wonder why mom is not there to wake them up in the morning, get them ready for school, walk them to the bus stop, drop them to school, welcome them home, sit in the audience when they graduate from elementary, junior high, high school, college, marriage and the list goes on and on. It makes you take a hard look at your own life and treasure each day as it were your last.
We may not know until we get to heaven why God allowed certain things to happen. Meanwhile, may we walk by faith and say with Job, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Keep these families in your prayer. Now at 1:10 AM – I will follow Job’s footsteps and go
worship.
We many know or understand but this we know that on this side of heaven when life does not make sense - we can always run to the throne for comfort.
